Black woodpecker - description, habitat, interesting facts

Black woodpeckers are considered the most amazing forest birds representing the woodpecker family. This species has a second name - yellow. These beautiful, fairly large birds can be found in the forests of the Eurasian part of the continent, in America and other regions of the planet. In total, the genus yellow includes seven species of birds, some of which are listed in the Red Book.

Black woodpeckers differ from other representatives of this order of birds in the characteristics of character and behavior. True, all types of yellow have a quality that unites them - this is an uneven flight. This bird has long been an object of close attention of ornithologists. Therefore, scientists were able to well study its habits, habits and lifestyle in general.

Where does the bird prefer to settle

The black woodpecker is rather unpretentious. Therefore, birds of this species are found almost throughout the European part of the continent, with the exception of the southern regions. Also their favorite habitats are areas of Asia with suitable climatic conditions: these are Sakhalin, Kamchatka, Siberia. The northern part of Japan, as well as the Korean Peninsula, is included in the habitat. Although black woodpeckers are mostly sedentary, they sometimes roam beyond their range. Typically, such movements occur in the winter season, and they are mainly associated with the search for food.

Lifestyle features yellow

I must say that the black woodpecker is not afraid of the presence of man. Therefore, if a bird finds an object convenient for arranging housing in a forest-park zone in the city, it will quietly settle there. It should be noted that each pair jealously guards its habitat, which is about 300 hectares.

What does a bird eat

Although black woodpeckers are not particularly picky about nutrition, their daily diet is quite impressive. In one day they are able to eat an impressive amount of food - about 450 representatives of the insect class. To replenish the supply of useful substances necessary for life, they are happy to eat caterpillars, ants, small beetles, larvae and other animal food.

In winter, when it becomes difficult to obtain food, black woodpeckers make short migrations in order to obtain food. In the cold season, they switch to plant food, being content with berries, seeds of conifers, fruits.

External characteristics

It is impossible to confuse the black woodpecker with some other bird, because it has bright features of the external appearance.

1. First of all, this is a bright red "hat" - the most characteristic sign is yellow. In the male, bright plumage is common on the occiput and frontal part of the head, while in the female it covers only the occipital region.
2. Another feature is a powerful, chisel-shaped beak, which even the strongest tree species can not resist. In representatives of both sexes, the beak has a grayish-yellowish hue, it is quite long and straight.
3. The plumage of the male casts a black luster, and in the female it is more dull with a brown tint.
4. Young chicks are very similar to adults. The only difference is that the plumage of the babies is loose and not as bright as in adult birds. Also, in first-year chicks, the red spot on the head is still vague, and the beak has a pale hue and is very pointed.
5. One of the features desired is their language. Thanks to the sticky secret that is in the saliva of birds, the food itself pours to the tongue. This quality helps woodpeckers to get small insects and ants directly from the core of trees.

The black woodpecker, as already noted, is a large bird. In the adult state, representatives of this species reach the following parameters:

• length - 50 cm (sometimes more than this indicator);
• body weight - about 300 g;
• beak length - up to 60 mm;
• wingspan - 70-80 cm.

Adult individuals in their natural habitats live up to seven years or more.

Offspring

By the end of the first year of life, a black woodpecker can already reproduce offspring. The breeding season in these birds, as in most birds, begins in early spring. The male is engaged in search of the girlfriend. Wanting to attract the attention of the beautiful half, he makes special guttural sounds, loudly tapping his beak on a tree. This peculiar ritual ends with the formation of a pair, which is settled in the old hollow or is equipped in a new dwelling prepared by the male. It is worth noting here that birds of other species gladly occupy hollows, on which woodpeckers worked intensively. But the owners do not show aggression to the invaders from housing, but calmly accept the arrangement of a new nest.

Interesting Facts

Black woodpeckers are classified as useful birds, as they help protect forest plantations from harmful beetles. Given the ability of these birds to move from one place to another throughout their lives, they make an invaluable contribution while maintaining the health of forests. The female is yellow begins to hatch the chicks when there are two eggs in the clutch. For this reason, chicks are born at different times. But the main feature of black woodpeckers is their isolation, they contact with relatives only during the breeding season.

Video: Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)